DOG Fever – Read This if Your German Shepherd Has a Fever
Dog fever can be seriously alarming in our German Shepherds. Read here if you suspect your dog have a fever and need the latest information available, provided by experts.
As a pet owner, one of the biggest challenges you will face is dealing with a sick German Shepherd. You’ll notice your dog’s appetite drop as they mope around the house. Your usually spunky Shepherd will be acting strange. You know your dog so you know that there is something definitely wrong, but you just don’t know what. You suspect it could be dog fever, but it’s not like you can just put your hand on his forehead and see if it’s hot. It’s unpleasant that our dogs can’t just tell us what’s wrong, but we can try to figure it out.
Dog fever can actually be pretty common in dogs. It can be caused by overheating, such as being left outside on a hot day, or it can be caused by a disease or infection. Sometimes, dog fever can even be caused by eating poisonous things like antifreeze. Regardless of what caused the dog’s fever, you want to know what to do if it happens. Down below in the article, we will answer the following questions;
● What are the symptoms of dog fever?
● What temperature is considered dog fever?
● What causes dog fever?
● How do you treat dog fever?
Fever Symptoms
At some point in your life, you have probably heard that you can tell if a dog has a fever by touching their nose. If their nose is cool and wet, they’re healthy, and if it’s dry and warm, they have a fever.
That is actually a myth, which is why it is important to be familiar with the common symptoms of dog fever. Dog fever will often go undetected, as it is difficult for us to tell when they have a fever due to the fact that dogs naturally have a higher body temperature than we do.
The fact is, there are no definite symptoms of dog fever. There are however some symptoms that could do dog fever, if not something else. So, what are the symptoms of dog fever you should be looking for?
● Nasal discharge
● Vomiting
● Shivering
● Lethargy
● Coughing
● Loss of appetite
● Depression
If you are noticing these symptoms in your German Shepherd, it’s time to consider that he may be suffering from dog fever. At this point, it would be wise to begin some form of treatment to bring the fever down. Ideally, you should work out a plan with your vet to ensure your dog gets the care he needs.
Remember, dog fever, when untreated, can cause extreme health issues for your dog and could potentially be fatal. If you suspect a fever, treatment is absolutely essential.
Fever Temperature
Naturally, dog’s have a higher body temperature than humans do. For this reason, it can be hard to determine whether or not your dog has a fever. The normal temperature range for a dog is between 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Anything over 103.5 degrees Fahrenheit can be considered a fever in a dog. Once your dog’s temperature reaches 103.5 degrees, you should call your vet. If your German Shepherd has a dog fever of 106 degrees or higher, you need to take your dog to the vet immediately while trying to cool them down.
This high of a dog fever can be serious, if not fatal. Before you can determine what your dog’s body temperature is, you have to know how to take their temperature.
To take a dog’s temperature rectally, complete the following steps:
1. Make sure you are using the right thermometer. Experts recommend using a digital thermometer for taking your dog’s rectal temperature. Human thermometers meant for ears simply do not work well for this purpose. Remember, the only way to get an accurate temperature is to check your dog’s temperature rectally.
2. Before you begin, you have to lubricate the thermometer. Baby oil or petroleum jelly can work great for this.
3. Gently insert the lubricated thermometer into your dog’s anus. Be patient, most thermometers take about 60 seconds to register an accurate temperature.
4. Give your dog a treat after, if their appetite allows for it.
How to Reduce a Fever
If your dog has a fever of over 103 degrees, you’re probably wondering if it’s possible for you to reduce it on your own. The answer is yes, you can. When you are looking to reduce a dog fever, the first step is to apply cold water all around the dog’s paws and ears.
You can do this with a soaked towel, or really any kind of soaked cloth. Continue to apply cold water to your dog until the fever drops below 103 degrees. Once it hits 103 degrees, it can actually be dangerous for your dog’s temperature to drop too fast which is why we recommend stopping.
When your dog’s fever begins to drop a bit, you should offer him some cold water. If they take it, great, if not, don’t force it, just continue to monitor your dog’s temperature. You should take your dog’s temperature at regular intervals until you’re able to talk to a vet so you can make sure it is staying in the correct range.
Taking your dog to the vet for a simple fever might seem excessive, but if you aren’t sure what causes a fever, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
What Causes Dog Fever?
Dog fever is commonly caused by the following;
● Infected bite or scratch
● Urinary tract infection
● Bacterial or viral disease
● Abscessed tooth
● Ear infection
● Infected organs
● Ingestion of something poisonous, such as antifreeze
If you aren’t sure what caused your dog to get a fever, you should take your dog to the vet to rule out all possible causes.
Fever Medicine/Treatment
If you have attempted to lower your dog’s fever with the above recommendations and it has still not gone down, you could give your dog certain medicines. Aspirin that is specifically formulated for animals may help in lowering the dog fever. It is perfectly safe for your dog.
However, be aware that there are certain medicines that you should never give to your dog. Ibuprofen and Tylenol should never, ever be given to your dog as they are incredibly dangerous. These drugs are incredibly toxic and can cause liver or renal failure. By giving your dog Tylenol or Ibuprofen, you are potentially making matters much worse.
We recommend taking your dog to the vet when they have a fever. You could potentially get rid of the dog fever by administering Aspirin or cooling them down with water, but that will likely only be for the short-term.
Fevers are often caused by a more serious, underlying issue. It is important to figure out what that issue is so you can treat the issue. Doing this is much more important than simply reducing the fever as the fever indicates that something else is wrong.
How to Treat a Fever
When you suspect that your dog might have a fever, the first thing you want to do is check that they actually have a fever. You can take their temperature with a specially-designed ear thermometer, but a rectal temperature is more accurate. Anything over 103 degrees is a fever.
The old saying “A wet nose is a healthy dog, a dry nose is a sick dog” is outdated advice that no longer holds true. The only sure way you can tell if a dog has a fever is by taking their temperature.
The next step in treating dog fever is cooling the dog down. It is recommended to attempt to bring your dog’s temperature down naturally before using a medication. To bring a dog’s temperature down, you can cool them off by rubbing a cool, soaked towel on your paws, face, ears, and mouth.
You could also give your dog a cool bath if they will allow for it. When you are in the process of cooling down your dog, it is important to keep track of their temperature and stop all cool down attempts once it drops below 103 degrees.
Temperature dropping too much in too short of a period of time can be dangerous. While you are attempting to bring their temperature down, you want to try to keep them as hydrated as possible. Offer as much water as your dog will drink.
If your natural attempts at bringing down a dog fever didn’t work, you could try administering a fever-reducing medication. Never attempt to use Tylenol on your dog as it is very toxic for dogs.
Instead, you should use Aspirin. If your dog’s fever is so bad that natural cooling attempts didn’t work, you should take your dog to the vet as soon as the Aspirin is administered. Fevers are usually a result of an underlying issue, so taking your dog to the vet will help the vet figure out what that issue is.
Fever causing ailments are usually very serious, so it’s highly recommended that you take your dog to the vet right away.
